umbrage

noun

um·brage ˈəm-brij

Synonyms of umbrage next

: a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult

took umbrage at the speaker's remarks

: shady branches : foliage

: shade, shadow

: an indistinct indication : vague suggestion : hint

: a reason for doubt : suspicion

Did you know?

Umbrage is a word born in the shadows. Its ultimate source (and that of umbrella) is Latin umbra, meaning “shade, shadow,” and when it was first used in the 15th century it referred to exactly that. But figurative use followed relatively quickly. Shakespeare wrote of Hamlet that "his semblable is his mirror, and who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more,” and by the 17th century this meaning of “vague suggestion; hint,” had been joined by other uses, including the “feeling of resentment or offense” heard today in such sentences as “many took umbrage at the speaker’s tasteless jokes.” The word’s early literal use is not often encountered, though it does live on in literature: for example, in her 1849 novel, Charlotte Brontë describes how the titular Shirley would relax “at the foot of some tree of friendly umbrage.”

Choose the Right Synonym for umbrage

offense, resentment, umbrage, pique, dudgeon, huff mean an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity.

offense implies hurt displeasure.

takes deep offense at racial slurs

resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.

harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother

umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.

took umbrage at the offer of advice

pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.

in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation

dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.

stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon

huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.

in a huff he slammed the door

Examples of umbrage in a Sentence

took umbrage at the slightest suggestion of disrespect

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Terence Fisher doused the first color adaptation of Holmes’s most famous case with lashings of red and green — which weren’t enough to impress the Conan Doyle estate, which took umbrage with Hammer’s salacious changes to the plot. —

Rory Doherty, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025 Cormier took umbrage with the account posting an old quote seemingly out of the blue. —

Brian Mazique, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 Expand All Members of a private Facebook group representing the area surrounding the far north Fort Worth Heritage neighborhood took umbrage at having one their leaders called a narcissist by a member of the Keller school board. —

Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Jan. 2025 Cronin took umbrage with that technical, earning a second technical and an early exit to the Bruins’ locker room. —

Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for umbrage

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin umbraticum, neuter of umbraticus of shade, from umbratus, past participle of umbrare to shade, from umbra shade, shadow; akin to Lithuanian unksmė shadow

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler

The first known use of umbrage was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century